Troy: No Tickets To Distracted Drivers Until 2011

Troy officials are putting the brakes on issuing tickets to distracted drivers until 2011. But motorists still will be cited if their bad driving is caused by activities that include texting, eating, grooming and interacting with pets.

Troy officials say driver complaints and un-posted signs warning motorists about the new ordinance have caused police to defer enforcement in the city.

WWJ’s Ron Dewey spoke with one resident who thinks the ordinance should be done away with — period.

“It just make it harder to live our lives. You have to be constantly worried about a government regulated…. It’s interfering with our lives,” he said.

But not everyone feels that way.

One local couple told WWJ’s Ron Dewey that, given what they see while driving in their hometown, the distracted driving law should be laid down, not pushed back.

“It’s like walking and chewing gum, you know? You’ve got to pay attention to what you’re doing,” said Sharon Phillips.

Her husband, Jim Phillips, agreed. “I wish people could just do the right thing and use better common sense,” he said.

Between July 1 and Sept. 30, officers wrote 192 warnings. A ticket carries no points but includes a $200 fine for texting and a $75 fine for talking on a cell phone.

A statewide law that makes it illegal for a person to read, write or send text messages while operating a moving vehicle went into effect July 1.

What do you think? Comment below.

(Copyright 2010 by WWJ Radio. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report).

Americans must start to really educate themselves that we have a bill of rights for a reason. When a city can pass a law affecting behavior and not even have to post it as a law then why have illegal search and seizure protections. Due process is fair notice and fair hearing. What does the City of Troy think it is? A province of communist Russia?